cartridges Archives - Positive Feedback

Goldring 1012GX Cartridge

Ed Kobesky — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 16:00:10 +0000

"They're boxy, but they're good." That was the slogan coined for Volvo cars by Dudley Moore's unhinged ad exec in the mediocre 1990 movie farce, Crazy People, which imagined what might happen if marketers started writing painfully honest ads. Regarding Goldring's $549 1012GX, I couldn't help but think along the same lines: looks old fashioned,... Read More »

The post Goldring 1012GX Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge

Ed Kobesky — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 17:09:16 +0000

I don't really know how to pronounce Nag-a-ok-a. Or is it Nag-a-woka? I wish I could find a video on YouTube or something from the actual company where someone says it correctly. Unfortunately, they don't really do much marketing or publicity, though I'm not sure it matters. Brochure copy can be especially unhelpful where the... Read More »

The post Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Aidas Mammoth Gold Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge

Tim Aucremann — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 19:46:29 +0000

Phono cartridges, like musical instruments, use their body's resonance to influence the unique character of their sound. The cartridge body holds the cartridge's suspension and its electrical generating system—its stylus, cantilever, coils and magnet—while sitting between those and the tonearm. The body is a source of resonance that vibrates at its own frequency while it... Read More »

The post Aidas Mammoth Gold Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Audio-Technica AT-VM750SH Phono Cartridge

Ed Kobesky — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 00:22:33 +0000

Ten-plus years have passed since I reviewed Audio-Technica's AT150MLx cartridge (HERE), a flagship moving magnet model without the flagship price: just $485 at the time. It featured a gold-plated boron cantilever tipped with a MicroLine stylus, a heavy metal body, MuMetal shielding between the channels and a ceramic mounting base to combat resonance. It was... Read More »

The post Audio-Technica AT-VM750SH Phono Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Hana Umami Red Moving Coil Phono Cartridge

Greg Weaver — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 15:32:49 +0000

Just How Close to World-Class Performance Can You Get for $3950? Perspective Before I acquaint you with what an emphatically notable performer the Hana Umami Red Moving Coil phono cartridge represents in today's blustering moving coil cartridge roster, permit me a brief foray into the background of the phono cartridge. There are two primary types... Read More »

The post Hana Umami Red Moving Coil Phono Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Audio-Technica AT-OC9XEB Moving Coil Phono Cartridge

Ed Kobesky — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 20:01:19 +0000

Audio-Technica's least expensive moving magnet cartridge, the AT-VM95C, is a thoroughly entertaining product. While far from the last word in anything, it's a cartridge I've enjoyed on turntable and tonearm combos costing more than 100 times its price. For just $39, it tracks well and resolves in big, bold strokes that makes it just as... Read More »

The post Audio-Technica AT-OC9XEB Moving Coil Phono Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Hana Umami Blue Moving-Coil Cartridge

Robert H. Levi — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 22:32:46 +0000

In my search for the Sweetheart of the most popular phono cartridge lines, offering the highest value and top performance for the price, the Hana series of cartridges brings a powerful entry. New to the market is the Hana Umami Blue Moving-Coil Cartridge also created by the brilliant Maseo Okada of Excel Sounds in Japan,... Read More »

The post Hana Umami Blue Moving-Coil Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Sweetheart of the Line: The Grado Timbre Series Reference3 Low Output MI Phono Cartridge

Robert H. Levi — Sun, 21 May 2023 15:58:46 +0000

I particularly appreciate high-value products, so I set out to identify over-performers that are underpriced in the phono cartridge world. Simply asking the cartridge manufacturers or distributors for their recommendations yielded fascinating results for my new series of reviews. First up to bat is Grado Labs, with an upper mid-line model designated the Timbre Reference3 suggested by... Read More »

The post Sweetheart of the Line: The Grado Timbre Series Reference3 Low Output MI Phono Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Grado Timbre Series Master3 Phono Cartridge

Ed Kobesky — Mon, 01 May 2023 16:55:39 +0000

I'm all for unburdening oneself of unwanted crap. As George Carlin said, if you didn't have so much goddamn stuff, you wouldn't need a house, which is really just a pile of stuff with a cover on it. Of course, that doesn't mean stuff is inherently bad. I, for one, enjoy sleeping in a bed.... Read More »

The post Grado Timbre Series Master3 Phono Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Charisma Audio Charm Phono Cartridge

John Hoffman — Mon, 01 May 2023 16:36:45 +0000

Consider the enigma that is the conical stylus, which is essentially the starting point for the earliest cartridges. While this stylus shape is widely used on modern entry level cartridges, curiously, it can also be found on a few select moving coil designs. Not all conical styli are created the same, as many are bonded... Read More »

The post Charisma Audio Charm Phono Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Phasemation PP-500 Moving Coil Cartridge: Punching Above Its Pay Grade

Myles B. Astor — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 15:48:45 +0000

"The whole is greater than the sum of the parts" is the perfect description of the sound of the Phasemation PP-500 low output moving coil cartridge. In short? The Phasemation PP-500 cartridge is an extremely musical sounding, low output moving coil cartridge whose overall performance transcends its readily identifiable sonic signature. Is the sound of... Read More »

The post Phasemation PP-500 Moving Coil Cartridge: Punching Above Its Pay Grade appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Audio-Technica AT-ART20 Moving Coil Cartridge

Mark Pearson — Sat, 14 Jan 2023 18:31:38 +0000

The AT-ART20 lists for $2900 and resides as the second most expensive cartridge in the ART series cartridge line. The AT-ART20 is only topped by the $4999 AT-ART1000. The AT-ART20 magnetic circuit was based on the AT-ART9XI, but the AT-ART20 has a thicker front yoke, which improves the flux density and increases the output by... Read More »

The post Audio-Technica AT-ART20 Moving Coil Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Impressions – A Study in Synergy, Part the Last, at last! Dohmann Audio, Schröder, Phasemation, & Gold Note

David W. Robinson — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 23:26:44 +0000

David W. Robinson in Jerusalem, Israel, 2022: a portrait by John Robinson The Dohmann Audio Helix Two Mk2 Turntable, Schröder CB-11 Tonearm, Phasemation PP-2000 MC cartridge, & the Gold Note PH-1000 Phono Stage with PSU-1250 Power Supply Part the First of my reflections on the superb synergy of the Gold Note PH-1000/PSU-1250 Phono Stage, the... Read More »

The post Impressions – A Study in Synergy, Part the Last, at last! Dohmann Audio, Schröder, Phasemation, & Gold Note appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Mobile Fidelity StudioTracker Phono Cartridge

Ed Kobesky — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 17:50:54 +0000

Would it be damning this cartridge with faint praise to simply call it nice? I hope not, because that's precisely what the entry-level model from Mobile Fidelity Electronics is. That's not to say inoffensive, as in competent but not particularly inspiring. The StudioTracker is, in fact, fairly sophisticated and affable for such an inexpensive example... Read More »

The post Mobile Fidelity StudioTracker Phono Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Impressions – A Study in Synergy, Part the First: Dohmann Audio Helix Two Mk2 Turntable, Schröder CB-11 Tonearm, Phasemation PP-2000 MC cartridge, & the Gold Note PH-1000 Phono Stage with PSU-1250 Power Supply

David W. Robinson — Sun, 17 Jul 2022 22:55:03 +0000

Ye Olde Editor, 2022: a portrait in Ink Outline (photograph by John Robinson; image processing by Ye Olde himself). A Study in Synergy There's that word again. As defined online by Oxford Languages, synergy is "the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater... Read More »

The post Impressions – A Study in Synergy, Part the First: Dohmann Audio Helix Two Mk2 Turntable, Schröder CB-11 Tonearm, Phasemation PP-2000 MC cartridge, & the Gold Note PH-1000 Phono Stage with PSU-1250 Power Supply appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Paradox Pulse Signature 70 Phonostage and Pulse Guard R RSG Cartridge Upgrades

Gary Lea — Tue, 10 May 2022 19:33:33 +0000

In 2019 I reviewed the Paradox Pulse Signature 70 MC Phono Preamp. I was so engrossed with it that I actually bought one along with the Paradox Pulse Guard R SMR Cartridge that I also reviewed around the same time. In the subsequent two years since my purchase Terence Robinson has upgraded both pieces with... Read More »

The post Paradox Pulse Signature 70 Phonostage and Pulse Guard R RSG Cartridge Upgrades appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Charisma Audio's Eco Cartridge

John Hoffman — Thu, 05 May 2022 17:24:44 +0000

Charisma Audio is a Canadian importer and distributor of a number of high performance audio lines, and over time have crafted a remarkable series of moving coil cartridges that have gathered praises and accolades over the last several years. The Charisma series of cartridges may not possess the instant brand recognition of Koetsu or Shelter,... Read More »

The post Charisma Audio's Eco Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Grado Timbre Series Opus3 Phono Cartridge

Ed Kobesky — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 16:14:06 +0000

If you've never heard one of the new, wood-bodied Grado cartridges, you may be under the same misconceptions I was. Maybe because they look so pipe-and-slippers, I'd assumed they'd sound commensurately warm, cozy, syrupy-sweet, homemade, and comforting. Or maybe it's because my first experience with a Grado cartridge—a whopping two decades ago—left me with the... Read More »

The post Grado Timbre Series Opus3 Phono Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Audio-Technica OC9XSH Cartridge

John Hoffman — Sun, 02 Jan 2022 18:01:31 +0000

In the 20th century the Japanese manufacturing sector gained recognition for the ability to improve products through a continuous refinement of the manufacturing process. In the early 1990s I attended Eastern Washington University as a business student and I was introduced to the concept of the Deming Cycle. This process was showcased by a profile... Read More »

The post Audio-Technica OC9XSH Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Dynavector 10X5 MKII Low Output Moving Coil Cartridge

Steve Lefkowicz — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 16:30:14 +0000

There is something to be said for stability in an audio system. In this case I don't mean "stability" as in free of vibration or unwanted movement, though that is obviously essential in a quality audio setup. I mean stable as in it is good to have some pieces of equipment that don't get swapped... Read More »

The post Dynavector 10X5 MKII Low Output Moving Coil Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

The Audio Note (UK) Io I MC Phono Cartridge, AN-S4 Step-Up Transformer, AN-V Silver Interconnects, and AN-SPe Silver Loudspeaker Cables: An 'Out of this World' Listening Experience!

Jeff Day — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 18:23:26 +0000

My highlight of 2019 was visiting with Peter Qvortrup (below) and the Audio Note (UK) 'family' in Brighton, England. Meeting Peter Qvortrup, Daniel Qvortrup (Peter's son, below), Andy Grove, and Darko Greguras was a real treat. Peter and Daniel walked me through the Audio Note (UK) operation, and told me about some of the exciting... Read More »

The post The Audio Note (UK) Io I MC Phono Cartridge, AN-S4 Step-Up Transformer, AN-V Silver Interconnects, and AN-SPe Silver Loudspeaker Cables: An 'Out of this World' Listening Experience! appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Hana SH Phono Cartridge

Ed Kobesky — Mon, 10 May 2021 18:42:14 +0000

Did high output moving coil cartridges morph into some kind of oddball niche product when I wasn't paying attention? Despite the considerable press attention paid to the relatively new line of Hana cartridges, nearly all of it has focused on the low-output versions. The precious few reviews mentioning the high-output versions treated them as, at... Read More »

The post Hana SH Phono Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Koetsu Black Goldline Moving Coil Cartridge

Michael Corsentino — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 18:37:05 +0000

Auditioning cartridges is a lot like wine tasting and shopping for televisions. You never know how good a glass of wine from a $100 bottle tastes compared to a $10 bottle until you've experience it for yourself. And you never truly appreciate the delta between TVs until you've seen them side by side at an... Read More »

The post Koetsu Black Goldline Moving Coil Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

E.A.T. Jo NO 8 MC Cartridge

Gary Lea — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 17:12:15 +0000

I think most of us are aware of E.A.T. and their turntables and cartridges. You may have read Robert Levi's review on the stunning Jo No. 5 cartridge back in our July 2018 issue (HERE). Robert had serious praise for the cartridge, ending the review with the following statement, "The E.A.T. Jo No. 5 MC... Read More »

The post E.A.T. Jo NO 8 MC Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Impressions: The Wave Kinetics NVS Turntable, Durand Tosca Tonearm, and DS Audio DS Master 1 Optical Cartridge and EQ/Phono Amp with the DS Audio ION-001

David W. Robinson — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 22:52:25 +0000

At RMAF, evening cigars, Denver, CO, 2019 (photograph by Scott Hull; image processing by David W. Robinson) When you do a lot of audio reviewing and show-going over several decades, as I have, you get to see and hear a lot of gear and recordings. Some are good; some are bad; some are ugly. Like... Read More »

The post Impressions: The Wave Kinetics NVS Turntable, Durand Tosca Tonearm, and DS Audio DS Master 1 Optical Cartridge and EQ/Phono Amp with the DS Audio ION-001 appeared first on Positive Feedback.